10 Shark Movies for Shark Week Marathons

These are the shark movies that have left us with a profound fear towards the deep abyss of the ocean and all of the malevolent creatures lurking in its depths. We can judge the effectiveness of a shark flick based on the impact it left on all beach-goers from its release forward. Even though, in the majority of the situations, there is no such thing as a white shark nonchalantly swimming laps near the shore of the sea, this is a concern that has been heavy on our minds for a long time.

Without further ado, we give you 10 Shark Movies for Shark Week Marathons. Happy nightmares!

#1 Jaws

It doesn’t matter if you’ve already seen it, it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve seen it, Jaws is the movie that started it all. Steven Spielberg built the shark movies genre with this classic flick, which managed to instill terror in our hearts despite the sparing use of the mechanical shark. Most of the movie focused on building tension and, by the time the shark was actually spotted, we were all on the edge of our seats.

#2 Open Water

Open Water was, more or less, released as a response to the “found footage movement” that many filmmakers wanted to jump on board of after the success of Blair Witch Project. The movie is shot on a digital camera to capture a much more realistic feel and it tells the story of a couple of scuba divers left behind by their team in the middle of the ocean. The movie is excellent at playing with our anxiety and at sending shivers down our spines with its psychological horror characteristics.

#3 Deep Blue Sea

There is a certain appeal and a level of mastery that comes with a B-list movie that’s just too good to be true despite its flaws. Deep Blue Sea is like Jaws on steroids (starring Samuel L. Jackson) and features genetically engineered sharks with enlarged brains and wits that make them capable of outsmarting our human protagonists. This movie is a wild ride from start to finish and it’s incredibly fun to watch.

#4 Blue Water, White Death

Unlike vampire and werewolf movies, shark movies don’t have to be limited to fiction. These aquatic imposing creatures are real and very likely to encounter in real life too (given the right/wrong circumstances). So, to sate your shark movies dose for shark week, a documentary is a must. This Peter Gimble production speaks of imports and exports in the world of great white sharks by providing superb footage.

#5 The Reef

Our group of protagonists is sailing for Indonesia, enjoying life on board of a yacht, when, all of sudden, they hit a reef and capsize. Stranded on an island, they attempt to survive but once they realize that there is no way for them to call for help, they decide that they need to start swimming back home. A shark is looming over their shoulders, picking them off one by one, and this is what gives this flick an intense feeling of dread and nervous expectancy.

#6 Sharknado

The best part about Sharknado is that it’s not one of those shark movies that will make you think twice before walking into the sea or ocean. No, it’s the kind of film that will leave you and your friends arguing over whether the producers had serious intentions or not. Take the premise of a tornado infested with sharks, a cast of characters that fight them off with chainsaws, and you’ve got yourself one of the best “so bad it’s good” movies in recent years.

#7 Bait

It’s worth mentioning that it also comes in 3D! This Australian flick gives us the scenario of a flood that hits a local supermarket and its afferent parking lot, accidentally bringing along two deadly white sharks. The group of survivors now must find a way to escape and to not get nibbled to death by these aquatic killers. Packed with great effects, plenty of gore, and plenty of thrills, this is one of the must watch shark movies for enthusiasts of the genre.

#8 The Deep

An adaptation of the follow-up novel to Jaws, also written by Peter Benchley, author of the latter, The Deep had earned for itself a lot of build-up and expectations, most of them steering from the surprising success of the Jaws formula. For the most part, the flick does live up, having earned its place among the best shark movies, especially when it comes to the underwater shots that give us an insight to the predators lurking deep below.

#9 Jaws 2

One year after the release of The Deep, fans were finally being given what they had been actually craving – a proper sequel to the monumental success that was Jaws. The sequel is set four years after the events of the original and it pits the children of Chief Brody against the latest shark attack that’s terrorizing the people of Amity Island. As a whole, Jaws 2 was a solid movie, managing to be a success both at box office and among fans. It even managed to give us one of the most memorable helicopter scenes of the period.

#10 Sharktopus

Plucked right from the masses of B-list movies with wits and logic up to par with Sharknado,Sharktopus is a movie that is highly recommended to all those who wish to see shark movies be all about gruesome violence and human helplessness. This Roger Corman flick introduces to us the concept of a half-shark, half-octopus bloodthirsty hunter that breaks free from the grips of its makers and starts wreaking havoc among the innocent. Just leave your brain at the door before putting this on and enjoy the senselessness.